the devitt family

DEVITT ( ) MARGARET
(1785-1865)

Margaret Devitt was born somewhere in County
Mayo Ireland. She emigrated to the U.S. in the late 1840s with her children.
Nothing is known about her husband and it is possible that he died in Ireland
or in Massachusetts where the family lived for a while before moving to a
farm in Eagan MN around 1857. Margaret spent the rest of her life living
on one of the adjoining farms in Eagan where two of her sons settled.

All of these children were born in County Mayo Ireland. The known daughters
were both married in MN and lived on farms in the area, Thomas Ward having
a farm that adjoined the Devitt homestead. At least some members of the family
resided in Clinton Massachusetts for a time prior to their arrival in
Minnesota.

* Family lore implies a relationship between the descendants of Anthony Devitt
and those of this Michael as they were known to refer to each other as "Cousins."
There is circumstantial evidence to support the relationship indicated.
Nonetheless, Michael Devitt family will be continue to be treated as a separate
family.

Patrick Devitt was born in County Mayo Ireland it is assumed that he emigrated
to the U.S. with his mother. In any case he settled in Massachusetts. He
was married to Catherine some time prior to 1852 when their first child was
born. The family moved to a MN about 1857. After spending a few years in
Burnsville, Patrick took up a homestead in Eagan with his brother's family,
where he remained until he died. Little is known about Catherine's parents
except that they appear to have moved to Dakota County as well. A Thomas
Kelly is listed on early census lists as occupying a neighboring farm. Catherine
also had a brother that settled in Lebanon Twp. in the same county.

Some time between 1885 and 1895 Catherine left the farm and moved into St.Paul
to live with one of her sons. Later she moved to Winnipeg Canada to live
with a daughter. It was in Winnipeg that she died.

Anthony Devitt was born in County Mayo Ireland and emigrated to the U.S.
in the late 1840s. Shortly after moving to New England he was married and
and by 1850 he was settled in Orchester Mass. along with various other family
members. An early history of Dakota County MN. states that he and his wife
spent some time in Clinton Massachusetts prior to arriving in Minnesota
about 1856. He homesteaded property in Eagan Twp. along with his brother
were he remained until his death.

Thomas was born in Eagan Twp. MN and was raised on the family farm. In 1880
he married his wife at St. Peters church in Mendota. Bridget also grew up
in a farm in Eagan Twp. After their marriage Thomas appears to have taken
up the trade of a carpenter and moved his family into the village of Rosemount
where his first four children were born. Some time between 1888 and 1895.
Thomas moved his family into St. Paul were they lived in several locations
in the old 6th Ward (West Side) and became members of St.Michael's parish.
Thomas' mother lived with the family for a time after her retirement from
the farm.

Most of the children remained in the St. Paul area. Nothing is known about
Catherine. She is not listed as a survivor of Thomas in his obituary.
James was living in Chicago in 1929. Thomas and his wife were residing at
233 Page Street in St. Paul at the time of his death. Thomas died on Oct.
4, 1929.

Andrew grew up in Eagan Twp. and lived on the family farm until the family
moved to a new home in St. Paul's 6th Ward, some time in the early 1890s.
In 1894 he married Margaret at St. Michaels Church. Andrew and his wife lived
on St. Paul's "West Side" for the rest of their lives.

James Devitt was born in Eagan Twp. and appears to have moved into St. Paul
with the rest of his family in the early 1890s. He was married to Catherine
at Rosemount in 1895. Catherine was the daughter of a prominent farmer in
Lebanon Twp. where she was born and raised. After their marriage, James and
Catherine moved to Winnipeg Canada where their children were born. Later
after the death of Catherine, James moved to Detroit, Michigan where he remained
with some of his children until his death.

Anthony was born in Clinton Mass. and moved with his parents to a farm in
Eagan Twp. where he was raised. Some time after his father died, the family
moved to another farm in Lakeville Twp.. After his mother died, he took over
management of the second farm where he remained until his untimely death.
Andrew married Mary in 1882. She was born in Burnsville Twp. and moved
to a farm in Empire Twp. with her parents. Shortly after they were married
Anthony and Mary moved to Hastings. Mary died in childbirth leaving one son
to be raised by Anthony.

Children

Joseph (1883-1919) m. Mary Connally ( ) St. Josephs Rosemount MN

This child was only six years of age when Anthony died so he was raised on
a farm in Empire by his grandparents Patrick and Bridget Hynes.

Thomas was born in Clinton Massachusetts and moved to a farm in Eagan Twp.
with his parents sometime in the mid 1850s. When he reached adulthood he
took up residence in Rosemount village and took up trade as a carpenter.
In 1878 he married his wife Ellen. She had been born in Saratoga N.Y. and
moved with her family to a farm in Lakeville Twp. Thomas was active in the
affairs of the village and received an appointment as postmaster of Rosemount.
All his children were born and raised in Rosemount village.

When Thomas retired as postmaster he and his family moved into St. Paul and
purchased a home at 984 Dayton Ave. He was still living there when he died
on Aug. 11, 1919. His wife Ellen remained at this address until her death
on July 13, 1927. They are both buried in Rosemount.

Nothing is known with regard to James F. as he does not show up on any St.
Paul directories. It is thought that he may have been a St. Paul fireman.
Mary and her husband managed the Lowell Inn in Stillwater Minnesota for a
time but nothing is known about where they died. Catherine remained in St.
Paul and worked as a clerk for the
Great Northern
Railroad. (top)

This family file contains the research notes of Mr. Kevin Geraghty as
of March 1999. Mr. Geraghty is researching the families and descendants of
those buried at the Highland Cemetery. For more information or to contribute
to Mr. Geraghty's research, please send him e-mail at
kgerag@aol.com.